“The grass isn’t always green in Melbourne’s exclusive suburbs”, Herald-Sun, 21/7. This article about the cosmetic use of synthetic grass annoyed me enough to send off a letter, which got published (in an edited form):
The vanity of some residents is unbelievable. Synthetic grass smothers the soil under it, as well as reflecting heat in summer, and ultimately ends up in landfill. It does nothing to help the environment and this cosmetic use for it should be banned.
Original draft:
The vanity of some residents is unbelievable. Synthetic grass smothers the soil under it, as well as reflecting heat in summer (real grass absorbs heat and is cooler), and will ultimately end up in landfill. It does nothing to help the environment and this cosmetic use for it should be banned by councils.
“Our exploding population is the gravest threat Britain faces today”, Daily Mail, 16/7. Michael Hanlon bluntly states the dismal truth which many don’t want to acknowledge: the U.K. is seriously overcrowded, and this is only getting worse.
“Record number of arrivals swells population”, SMH, 19/7. Features alarming statistics showing Australia’s immigration and birth rates are the highest since the 1950s. There are two voices of reason in the end paragraphs:
But not all are convinced population growth is good for the country. Scientist Tim Flannery, who was the Australian of the Year in 2007, has questioned whether Australia’s natural resources can support even the existing population in the longer term. Mark O’Connor, the author of the 2009 book Overloading Australia said: “From any scientific point of view it’s straightforward: it’s crazy to be growing our population. We need to cut carbon emissions and secure food and water supplies.”
A letter, 20/7, answering the one quoted in my 18/7/2009 entry:
Roots of violence go beyond suburbia
Graham Wines from leafy Glen Iris (Letters, 18/7) thinks that we should all live in densely populated centres such as Hong Kong, Paris and Tokyo. I can assure him that, although they were interesting places to visit, after the novelty wore off I found them to be stiflingly claustrophobic. I have come to the conclusion that living in a pleasant suburb such as Glen Iris is probably the best compromise.
The large cities referred to by Mr Wines, in particular Hong Kong and Tokyo, are indeed safe but have completely different cultures to Melbourne’s.
As for Paris, I did not feel safe there. What about other densely populated cities, such as Rio de Janeiro or London? I would suggest that, due to their high population densities, they are more dangerous than sprawling Melbourne, not less.
There is violence in the home, in schoolyards, on sports fields, and on the roads. Violence is ingrained into the social fabric. Poor education, alcohol abuse and poverty are catalysts for brutal urges and their destructive consequences. No politician has the courage or ability to tackle these issues in a meaningful way.
Denying us the Australian dream is hardly the answer.
– Andrew Gardner, Melbourne
As I repeat endlessly, the only sustainable solution to the social and environmental ills caused by overcrowding is to reduce population growth!
“Indian student industry a study in shams and scams”, The Australian, 14/7. Another report on the corrupt education industry here. India’s basic problem is, of course, its huge population (2008 estimate: 1 147 995 904) – to quote one commentator:
I think the root cause of the problem is poor average students in India who have no hope of prosperity in Indian due to intense competition back home are inevitably falling pray to expectation of better quality of life in Australia.
